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First published in 1989, written with contributions from experts who have critically evaluated the state of the art and the prospects of isolated adults cardiac myocytes in cardiological research, this two-volume publication summarizes the current knowledge of this technology. The methodology, structure, and metabolism of cardiomyocytes are presented, along with metabolism and cation homeostasis and energy metabolism and hypoxic injury. Additionally, cell isolation and culture and the structure and biochemistry of the sarcolemma is explained. Electrophysiology and contractile function with ionic currents and membrane channels is discussed. Also, the electro-physiological effects of transmitters and hormones are presented, with excitation-contraction coupling and the use of cardiomyocytes in drug design and research explained.

This book provides an update of recent advances in the basic and clinical applications of cell-based therapies for myocardial repair and regeneration in ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF). The first sections of the book illuminate basic aspects of stem cells such as definitions, isolation criteria and characterization of embryonic and adult stem cells, as well as pluripotent stem cells and tissue specific progenitor and stem cells. In the following section, the text examines the role of critical regulators of stem cell differentiation in myocardial regeneration, that include circadian rhythyms, microRNAs, epigenetics, microvescicles, and exosomes. The text concludes with a review of the use of stem/progenitor cells in cardiac regeneration and discuss current controversies, unresolved issues, challenges, and future directions. Stem Cells and Cardiac Regeneration is addressed to a wide audience consisting of cardiologists, clinicians, and research scientists, who will learn new concepts in cardiovascular regeneration and repair with special focus on molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential for cardiovascular regeneration.

This book summarizes our current understanding about the biology and patho-biology of cardiomyocytes and depicts common techniques for the study of these cells. The book is divided into two parts; the first part provides insight into role and function of cardiomyocytes under normal conditions and describes embryogenesis and differentiation, in the second part the role of cardiomyocytes in aging and disease is discussed and cellular responses under stress conditions illustrated. Cardiomyocytes represent the main mass of the heart, and cellular malfunction directly modifies heart function leading to subsequent heart failure. As such, cardiomyocytes are causative involved in the main reasons of heart failure, such as post-infarct remodeling, hypertensive heart disease, idiopathic heart failure, and interactions with other co-morbidities such as diabetes. On the other hand, cardiomyocytes are necessarily target of therapy. Therefore, a precise understanding of cardiomyocytes biology is a pre-requisite for proper disease treatment and evidence based medicine. The book is written for cell biologists, pharmacologists and biomedical researchers specialized in cardiac and vascular biology.

Myofibrillogenesis has been studied extensively over the last 100 years. Until recently, we have not had a comprehensive understanding of this fundamental process. The emergence of new technologies in molecular and cellular biology, combined with classical embryology, have started to unravel some of the complexities of myofibril assembly in striated muscles. In striated muscles, the contractile proteins are arranged in a highly ordered three dimensional lattice known as the sarcomere. The assembly of a myofibril involves the precise ordering of several proteins into a linear array of sarcomeres. Multiple isoforms in many of these proteins further complicate the process, making it difficult to define the precise role of each component. This volume has been compiled as a comprehensive reference on myofibrillogenesis. In addition, the book includes reviews on myofibrillar disarray under various pathological conditions, such as familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC), and incorporates a section on the conduction system in the heart. Much of the information in this volume has not been described elsewhere. Presented in a manner to be of value to students and teachers alike,'Myofibrillogenesis'will be an invaluable reference source for all in the fields of muscle biology and heart development.

Calcium is crucial in governing contractile activities of myofilaments in cardiomyocytes, any defeats in calcium homeostasis of the cells would adversely affect heart pumping action. The characterization of calcium handling properties in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMCs) is of significant interest and pertinent to the stem cell and cardiac regenerative field because of their potential patient-specific therapeutic use.

A variety of metabolic processes are known to be intimately involved in the maintenance of cellular structure and function. It has also become clear that metabolic events involved in the synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP as well as for the synthesis of proteins and phospholipids are essential for cellular health. The regulation of cell function is generally achieved through participation of a wide variety of hormones and different signal transduction mechanisms for the activation/deactivation of some specific metabolic processes. In this regard cyclic AMP and calcium seem to play a crucial role. Various hormones are also known to affect the genetic machinery of all the cell; however, the exact signals for genetic control of cellular function are not well defined. In particular, the sequence of events concerned with remodelling of different types of cells under various pathological situations is poorly understood. In this book we have therefore dealt with some of these issues from biochemical, molecular biological, physiological, and pharmacological viewpoints. Special emphasis has been laid on understanding heart function and metabolism in health and disease in general, and cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease in particular. It is hoped that this multidisciplinary information will be of value to basic scientists and clinical investigators.